THE QUESTION: Should there be an open in skiing as there is in golf?

ROLAND PALMEDOHonorary presidentAmateur Ski Club of N.Y.New York CityIn America amateurs only are eligible for amateur competition. In Europe, amateurs and open-class competitors are eligible. I'm in favor of competition with the open class to help develop our amateurs, but only if there are plenty of championships limited to amateurs.

J. LYMAN BINGHAMExecutive DirectorU.S. Olympic AssociationNew York CityAmateurs may compete against the open class but never against athletes who compete for money, as is permitted in golf. If the FIS ever approved the latter, the Olympic Committee might drop skiing. Golf is not an Olympic event, so it has no such problem.

EVERETT KIRCHEROwner, ski resortBoyne MountainMich.I've advocated an open for three years. People want to watch the pros. We'd get a lot more interest if we had them in addition to the amateurs. I've offered $5,000 for an open, but we do not have a PGA setup to administer it. We first must organize a pro circuit.

RED ROLFEAthletic DirectorDartmouth CollegeHanover, N.H.Since there are few ski colleges, there are not enough amateurs who get enough skiing time to be able to compete seriously against professionals. A ski open would be all pro. Since skiing is a pleasant pastime, I think that the Olympics should be the goal of the amateur.

STEIN ERIKSENOlympic gold medal winnerAspen, Colo.Yes. A month ago a group got together and elected Steve Knowlton, former American Champion, our temporary president. Present were Friedl Pfeifer, Dick Durrance, Pete Seibert, Fred Iselin and I. Our committee is sending letters about an open to important skiers.

WILLY SCHAEFFLERAssistant technical director for ski events1960 Winter OlympicsSquaw Valley, Calif.I don't think a ski open could support itself. If it could, I would favor it. In Europe everyone favors an open, but no one puts up the money. Look at Stein Eriksen. After winning Olympic and FIS gold medals, the only thing open to him is an instructor's job. It's too bad.

PEDER PYTTEActing ski coachUniversity of DenverDenverNo, not in national championships. There are open meets now which I favor, but they should not be on a national scale. I feel it wouldn't be right to open any of the existing and long-standing amateur championships to professionals.

BEN VAN SANTSki industry consultantMinneapolisVery definitely. There's no future for top skiers now. What is there ahead for Bud Werner if he wins a world championship? Pros like Hogan and Snead have done wonders for golf. Ski pros could do the same for skiing.

ROBERT P. BOOTHChairman, USEASAAmateur Rules CommitteeManchester, N.H.We have it now. Such competition is good for amateur sport. But the pro cannot compete for money under the rules of the FIS, which governs open-class racing. The money question is strictly for the FIS to decide.

EDWIN D. EATONPast presidentNational Ski AssociationWest Hartford, Conn.No. The amateur is not in the same class with the open competitor. The FIS has a world's ski championship, and open-class competitors are allowed. We have such an event, but the amateurs and pros are listed separately.

J. STANLEY MULLINU.S. RepresentativeInternational Eligibility CommitteeLos AngelesNo. The number of participants would be less and the number of spectators greater, as in baseball. I like to see people ski and have no objection to pros competing where it does not interfere with the growth of skiing at the base.